His Absolute Proposal: An Illicit Billionaire Love Story (Elise, #3) (11 page)

"I do, but... then that means I was mean to her, doesn't it?"

"You certainly weren't nice," he said.  "Though I'm sure Laura has no qualms with what happened.  She's somewhat of a masochist, if I'm being honest."

"Er... what?"  I knew what a masochist was, but to be honest I couldn't quite wrap my head around it.  There were actually people like that?

"She enjoys pain.  The more painful, the more she enjoys it.  That's the simple definition, at least.  It's not actually like that, or not quite.  It's a long story, Miss Tanner."

"Is she trying to forget something?" I asked.  It was the only thing I could think of.

"You're far too perceptive for your own good," he said.  "Why would you say that?"

"It seemed like it made sense.  It's like if you bite your lip when you hurt yourself, to distract yourself from the pain with a different source of pain that you can control."

"Yes, correct," Lucent said, making no move to explain any further.

"So you cared about her, then," I said.  "You said you didn't, but you did, right?  At least a little bit?"

"I didn't love her, if that's what you're asking."

"I don't want you to have loved her, I just want you to have cared, Lucent," I said.  Maybe I said it a little too forcefully, but it made sense in my mind.  "You make yourself sound like a monster, like you're some uncaring, inconsiderate, and terrible brute, except you aren't.  I know you, and you aren't.  I've known you for quite some time now, and you seem to do this a lot, too."

"Are you sure you aren't preferring to ignore the simple facts?" he asked with a sly smirk.

"You're antagonizing me now, and I don't like it," I said.  "I'm going to tell you right now that if you're going to act like a Beast, then I will be your Beauty, and I'm not going to let you hide away in some French chateau like a villain."

"No, of course not.  We're going to hide away on an exotic island instead."  His expression remained dreadfully serious and I really had no idea how he did it.

I leaned back, glaring at him.  I glared harder, pushing my face towards his, touching his nose with mine.  He stared back at me, impassive and confident.  Lucent was somewhat cocky sometimes, but not in a rude, belligerent way.  He just looked very cocky, with his clenched jaw and steady breathing.  Everything about him spoke towards knowing exactly what he was doing, which I supposed was more than true in most cases.  Lucent had a knack for keeping himself composed.

I huffed at him, breaking my gaze and jerking my head to the side so I didn't have to look at him anymore.

"Did you really just do that?" he asked.  "Did you huff at me?"

"I did," I said.  "I huffed."

He laughed.  "You're not good at pretending you're angry, Elise."

"You're not good at pretending you're a jerk, Lucent," I said.  "Also, you just called me Elise.  You gave yourself away."

"Isn't that your name?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Shut up," I said.  I turned back and stuck my tongue out at him; and for good measure I licked his nose.  I thought that should get some sort of reaction from him, but, no.  He just stared at me, the tip of his nose glistening slightly.

"I'm sorry," I said.  "Not for licking your nose.  I'm sorry for spanking Elle."

"Apology accepted," he said.  "Please try not to make a habit of it."

"Unlike some people, I don't want to spank other people, Lucent," I countered.

"You have no idea, Miss Tanner," he said, nearly growling.  "It's very true.  I would like nothing more than to tie you up and spank you right this instant.  And then fuck you into an ecstatic mess.  Unfortunately it's not possible currently."

"Very unfortunate," I said.  "I think I would have enjoyed that."

He grinned, predatory.  And then he stuck out his tongue and licked the tip of my nose.

"You licked me!" I shouted, laughing at him.  Then I quieted, because, oh God, we were sort of maybe not supposed to be loud and argumentative right now.  I mean, maybe it wouldn't matter, but it just seemed like we shouldn't cause a scene.  Not that there was anyone here to see it, but...

"I did," he said, unapologetic.  And then...  "I'm sorry, too, Miss Tanner."

I knew he wasn't talking about licking me.  It was much more than that.  It didn't really need to be explained, but it needed to be said.  There was a finality to it, and we'd talked about this before, but this time was different.  I'd opened up to him, and told him about what I did, and he... he did the same in his own way.  Different, though.  We were different, but similar; comparable while contrasting.

I was sorry, and then Lucent was sorry, and that was it.  I accepted it, and I accepted him, and he did the same for me.  I knew this, and I understood it.  It was the part of our relationship that I liked the most.

Companionable silence, comfort and closeness.  No words, just ideas.  A gentle touch.  A soft whisper of nothingness.  Quiet, calming gestures and sounds.  Even the sound of us breathing, laying cuddled close to one another, could speak volumes.  There was meaning in everything, and while I didn't exactly understand the entirety of the universe, I thought I understood the meaning in Lucent.  Just small, subtle things; the furrow of his brow or his slightly pursed lips.  The way he cleared his throat, or how he sat.  All of it.

Everything.

"Where are we going?" I asked.  "Once we get up, I mean.  After we stop swinging."

We weren't swinging anymore already, though.  Neither of us had paid it much attention for awhile now.  We sat on the swing, at a standstill, floating lightly above the ground, Lucent on soft plastic and me in his lap.

"Come," he said.  "I'll show you."

W
e walked down city sidewalks like we belonged here, like we fit perfectly, like we should be side by side, should be walking casually, holding hands, teasing each other, talking about this and that.  We didn't talk about much of anything, just minor playful banter, but I enjoyed it.

We were talking through the city streets as if we weren't being chased by the police, as if we weren't wanted, weren't looking to be brought in for questioning, didn't know that the police assumed us guilty of some crime.  Perhaps they didn't exactly assume me guilty of any crime, but I was with Lucent and I considered myself guilty by association.  An accessory, if you will.

Maybe that sounded wrong.  Why should I want to be guilty?  Except, I did.  I mean, I didn't want to commit a crime, nor be guilty, but if Lucent had, if he were, then I would go along with him.  If I thought about it too much, it seemed somewhat naive, but I didn't think so.  I preferred to think of it as a Bonnie and Clyde type of situation, except possibly less fashionable.  I didn't have the dress for it, but Lucent fit the part well enough, aside from the brash and cocky demeanor one might expect from a modern-day Clyde.  Lucent's brashness and cockiness seemed more subtle.

It was a weird sort of thought, but it made me smile.

"What are you smiling at, Miss Tanner?" Lucent asked.

"I am smiling," I said, "at nothing in particular.  Also, excuse me, but who is Miss Tanner?"

He smirked.  "My apologies, Miss Dunst.  Miss Tanner is my part time lover, of course.  My mistress on the side."

I slapped at his arm playfully with my free hand, refusing to let go of his other hand while we walked side by side.  "Max!  You oaf.  You absolute cad.  You awful, rotten fellow.  I can't believe you would do something like that."

"I'm an oaf, a cad, and an awful, rotten fellow, am I?" he asked.  "If I'm being honest, you're much better than her."

"Do you tie her up?" I asked.  "Do you spank her until she's red and then do you toss her onto the bed and have your way with her?"

"Possibly," Lucent said.  "Would you like that?"

"I can't believe I'm not enough woman for you.  I'm going to have to figure out a way to satisfy your insatiable desires so you don't stray from me," I said.  Lifting my chin, I looked away from him.  I also squeezed his hand tight and tried to hide my silly smile.

"I'll leave her," Lucent said, continuing to play the part of Max Hollowell, fiance to Josephine Dunst.  "You're the only one for me, Josephine."

"I thought I was Miss Dunst?" I asked.  "Or is Josephine alright, too?  Maybe a nice nickname?  What do you think of Josey?"

"Cute," he said.  "A little playful, but potentially sexy.  It lends itself towards a certain sort of erotic alliteration."

"Oh?" I asked, suddenly quite curious.  "How so?"

Lucent leaned in close, whispering into my ear.  "I want you.  And I
will
have you.  Before the end of the day, I'm going to have you screaming my name in ecstasy.  Your sweet, tight little pussy will be mine, Josey."

Well... yes.  Um...  Well then!  I supposed that was what he meant, now wasn't it?  "Pussy" and "Josey" did go rather well together, now didn't they?  Hm... I needed to consider this more.

"What are you thinking right now, Miss Tanner?" Lucent asked, staying close and grinning a conspirator's grin.

"I'm thinking it might be quite a bit easier to scream your name if you're Max," I said, thinking quickly.  "I can say it a lot more often in the same amount of time.  It lends itself towards being screamed, and very often.  If you're up for the task, that is.  I can't just scream it for no particular reason, you know?  I'd need incentive."

"I'll give you some incentive, alright," Lucent said, growling and nipping playfully at my ear.  "I can't wait."

I blushed and turned away from him, feeling rather naughty and shy all of a sudden.  Did those two things go together?  Shyly naughty?  I wasn't exactly sure, but I liked the idea of it.  I thought Lucent must have, too, because when I turned back he had a wide and wicked grin on his face, striding down the sidewalk with a certain seductive confidence.

"Oh!" I said.  "Lucent.  Um... Max.  Let's stop here for a moment?"

I still didn't know where we were going, because Lucent hadn't told me yet, but this place seemed like a good place to stop for a moment.  Mostly because I had an idea.

"Here?" he asked.  He turned to look at what I was looking at.

"Yes?  Don't you think it's a good idea?" I asked.

He furrowed his brow, confused for a second, but then it must have dawned on him.  "It couldn't hurt," he said.  "Would you like to come in with me, or shall I surprise you?"

"I'll come in," I said.  "But I'll wait by myself.  You can surprise me."

"Very well.  Shall we?"  He stepped to the side, opening the door to the shop for me.  "After you, Miss Dunst."

"Why, thank you, Max.  You're always quite the gentleman, aren't you?"

He smiled, and I smiled back; we both stepped inside the clothiers.

P
erhaps it wasn't entirely necessary, but while I had a borrowed change of clothes from Jessika, Lucent still wore the same clothes he'd worn the night of the Landseer party.  We didn't exactly match, you know?  With me wearing a tight pair of jeans and a fitted t-shirt walking next to a man wearing dress slacks, dark black shoes, and a dress shirt, um... well, I thought that we might draw attention because of that.  Maybe not, or not exactly; to be honest, I didn't know.  I thought Lucent might want to change, too, though.  We'd taken a shower earlier, and with the addition of new clothes it seemed like an altogether fresh start, now didn't it?

I waited near the front of the small men's clothing shop while Lucent browsed.  I tried not to look, but I spared a few glances his way every so often.  I kind of wondered what he was going to get.  Most of the time he wore fancier clothes, even outside of work.  Button-down shirts, polo shirts, khaki pants, nicer shoes, and so on.  I didn't think I'd ever seen him in a pair of jeans, and the only time he wore more casual attire was either when he was working out or when we were going to bed.

I had some hopes right now, anyways.  Possibly silly hopes, but I was curious, and curiosity can be a wicked sort of feeling on occasion.

I spotted Lucent out of the corner of my eye talking to the man at the front counter about something.  He had a few items of clothing in his hands, but he somehow managed to hide them from my sight.  Also, he turned and looked at me and gave me a curt, accusing glare when I stopped looking at him out of the corner of my eye and looked at him fully instead.

I looked away fast, pretending innocence.  Lucent and the cashier laughed about something, then I heard the telltale ring of items being purchased.  A moment later, Lucent disappeared.

The cashier—also the owner, going by the crisp, golden name tag pinned to the front of his shirt—came up to me.  "Miss Dunst?" he said.  "Your fiance asked me to have you wait outside now, if you don't mind?"

I blinked.  "He wants me to wait outside?"

"Yes, if you will?  He explained everything to me.  It's awful when that happens.  It happened to me once before, too.  I'm glad to assist, though.  You both came to the right place."

"Um...?"  What was awful?  What had happened?  Did Lucent tell him about the police?  That seemed passing odd, and I didn't know why he would do that unless he knew this man, so, um...?  Did he?

"Your luggage?" the man said in clarification.  "You flew in early this morning and the airline lost your luggage, right?"

"Oh!  Sorry!  Yes.  I... I'm a little forgetful sometimes.  I mean, I'm not forgetful, but..."  If Lucent was going to make things up, well then so was I.  "We're trying to have a baby, too," I said.  "I thought maybe he might have told you.  I don't know why.  It seems so silly."

The man laughed, offering me a pleasant smile.  "Of course not!  I understand completely.  It's an exciting time.  My wife and I had our first not too long ago.  I wish you both good luck.  I'll toss a little something special into your fiance's order just for you.  Think of it as an early congratulations gift."

"Oh, no, you don't have to," I said.  I said this, but I kind of wanted a congratulation gift, too.  Who wouldn't?  Except that I'd sort of lied.  Or had I?  Would Lucent and I try to have a baby sometime?  It was just like an early early congratulations gift then, right?